Mental Health Assessment - What Happens If You Are Unhappy With Your Mental Health Assessment?
If you suffer from mental health issues it is essential to seek help. Mental illness can be as serious as physical illness.
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of gender, age or ethnicity, religious belief, social, cultural or political background. APP acknowledges the need to combat discrimination.
What is an assessment of mental health?
A mental health assessment is a process that is used to determine how an individual is functioning psychologically, socially and developmentally. It also helps diagnose conditions like depression or neurological diseases such as dementia.
A healthcare professional will interview the patient and observe their physical condition in the initial evaluation. They might also ask questions about their symptoms and what they have been going through. They will also test the person's capacity to think and reason, as well as remember (cognitive function).
There are a variety of different tests that can be performed during an assessment. They could be formal, standardized tests or informal, non-standardized tests. They could include a checklist of problems and a memory test or self-report screening tool like the GHQ or MMSE. These tools can be administered by a general practitioner, or they can be performed by an expert in mental health.
Sometimes, laboratory tests are needed to determine an illness. These might include blood or urine samples. The tests are generally not painful. The only discomfort could be caused by the injection of blood which can feel like a small pinch or sting. In more serious cases the need for an MRI or EEG scan may be required.
It is essential for a healthcare professional to have the most complete picture possible when they conduct an assessment. This involves taking into consideration the patient's lifestyle, family history, and the environment. This information will be taken into consideration when deciding on the most appropriate treatment for the patient.
What happens during an assessment at a mental health service?
The examination is a chance to let health professionals to listen and comprehend your situation. It is important that you make use of this opportunity to talk about your concerns and ask questions. You should be well-informed about the various treatment options to make an informed choice.
It is important to be greeted with a warm, welcoming, empathic and respectful manner by the staff upon arrival (NICE, 2009b). Anyone who wants to sit in solitude or in a group must have a comfortable waiting space.
During the mental exam, your doctor may ask you questions about your thoughts and emotions and how they affect your daily life, and whether you have tried to manage your symptoms on your own. Your doctor will also observe how you behave. They might be able to be observing your speech or if you maintain eye contact. They will also test your memory and reasoning skills by asking simple questions like recalling short lists and naming common objects or shapes.
If you are under section 2 of the Mental Health Act, your AMHP will support and guide you throughout the assessment. You can bring a companion or family member along to your appointment or opt to have an advocate instead, who can represent your views and interests. They could be professionals, such as lawyers or charity workers.
Many people find it difficult to talk about their emotional wellbeing with health professionals, particularly if they have had previous negative experiences. Many children are unaware that changes in their moods or behavior are cause for concern. Other families may not know where to go for help. It is crucial that all healthcare professionals understand the impact of past poor experiences and work to establish trust.
What should I do if unhappy with the results of the test?
If you are not satisfied with the assessment you received under the Mental Health Act, you can file a complaint with the CQC. For more details, read our guide on how to make an appeal.
People who utilize mental health services often have multiple appointments with a variety of professionals. It can be difficult to keep track of them all. It is crucial to try and be as honest and open as possible with the person conducting your assessment. If you aren't, you may give the professional wrong impressions of your condition, and this could affect your care.
A mental illness is a condition that can alter your mood, thoughts and behaviour. It can cause difficulties with relationships, work and even everyday activities. Some common conditions include anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia. You can get help for mental illness from your doctor or family members, as well as by visiting the nearest NHS CAMHS.
The most important factor in improving mental health is getting the right assessment and treatment. NHS England is working hard to ensure everyone gets the right treatment at the appropriate time. This includes reducing wait times and ensuring that the correct information is readily available to anyone who requires it. We are also making adjustments to the way we collect and share information to facilitate this.
We want to see all local mental healthcare services be able keep and share information like other NHS organisations. This will improve security and quality of the care. Our aim is that all providers have access to up-to-date and accurate data, in real time regardless of where they are. This is part of the NHS's commitment Data Saves Lives which aims to eliminate the obstacles to information sharing across the health and healthcare system.
What should I do if need a second opinion on something?
If you feel that the health professionals involved in your assessment don't take your concerns seriously, there are a few things you can do. You could ask the manager of your mental health service to have a different doctor review the case with you, or you could call one of the NHS helplines to get assistance in your area. If you reside in England and have a problem, the NHS has a service called EIT (Emergency Intervention Team) which will send a crisis response team out to your home. You can also contact local volunteer groups or charities such as Mind or Rethink for advice.
You might want to seek a second opinion from another medical professional or doctor, or even from your GP. This is advisable in the event that you aren't sure of your diagnosis or treatment options or if the doctors disagree about the best course.
A study published in the American Journal of Medicine found second opinions to be of substantial value and cost less than what the initial opinion would have cost. The reason for this is that experts can provide new perspectives and information that can alter the direction of a patient's treatment.
A second opinion could be needed when your healthcare professional has missed a possible cause of your symptoms. This could be due to a variety of reasons like a mistaken diagnosis or a physician who does not listen to your concerns.
Dementech can arrange for a private mental assessment with one of our psychiatrists. We offer 50-minute consultations and cooperate with the majority of major private insurance companies to ensure that psychiatric treatments are covered. However, if you do not have insurance, we are still in a position to provide top quality and affordable treatment.
What should I do if require an opinion from a specialist?
You should be able to arrange a second opinion if you are dissatisfied with the mental health evaluation results. It's not an option that is legally protected however, doctors are generally willing to make it happen. You can contact the mental health services or your GP to arrange this. They should be able give you information on local advocacy services.
The specialist will examine and may perform additional tests, such as blood tests or an X-ray. They will then inform you about the results and discuss the options for treatment. This could include hospitalization, or other options. The doctor should take into account your gender, age, social background, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, disability and cultural or religious beliefs when talking with you.
A second opinion can be beneficial because it lets you compare medical advice from different experts and to gain an entirely new perspective on your healthcare situation. It will help you feel more comfortable regarding your diagnosis and treatment options and can also give you more details on the potential adverse effects of each option.
There could be mental health assessment online to seek a second opinion. For instance, you may believe that you suffer from a rare or unusual illness and you want another specialist to weigh in on the diagnosis and treatment options. You may have read about treatments that your doctor does not provide and you would like to know if they are safe for you.
A private Psychiatrist will usually meet with you within a couple of days and have access to your complete health record. They can also arrange a video consultation via Skype, Facetime or a phone call and then send the medical report directly to your GP.